Beyond Pat's Kitchen: Wigtown Book Festival

This is the 20th year of Wigtown's Book Festival! I must admit, I have been aware of this book festival since its first year, and I used to travel to Wigtown regularly for work, but this stopped about a year before the festival started. For some reason, I have never been to this festival - until today!

When I used to work in Wigtownshire, I always enjoyed my time there. Not only are the people lovely, but the scenery is amazing. It was a pleasure to drive there and to spend the days and I really missed this when the work changed and I was no longer needed there. So again, I wonder why it took me so long to come back?

Anyway, what a wonderful day. The concept of a book festival always escaped me, hearing about these lovely houses filled with books was something I could not mentally picture. But being there today, it was a pleasure to discover exactly what that looks like. The following photos are from the largest bookstore in Scotland! These are only a few of the rooms. The house just went on and on!

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We were only able to come for the day and we brought Kenzie along. Her sister lives in Wigtown and we arranged to meet them and have a few hours together. Both couples wondered if the sisters would recognise each other. Both dogs are outgoing, full of energy and apparently love life, but it didn't appear that they treated each other any differently than we see Kenzie treat any dog she meets.

The first meeting!

But we enjoyed our time together and so did they, and it was not really important they don't really know they are sisters!

I was able to buy some Christmas gifts for people who are usually not easy to buy for! That was a very welcome surprise about this day. In addition to those purchases, I bought myself 2 books - both based in Wigtown and telling the history of two bookstores. I am looking forward to reading them. I also got a photography book to help with a challenge I keep giving myself and never following up on. There is a local gin there and I was so tempted to buy a bottle! Since this is Sunday, the local distillery was not open so I could not get any tastes there. One of the stalls in a marquee did have bottles and it was difficult not to walk out with one of them. However, there were a few different types and I didn't just want to pick one blind. Looks like I will have to return to Wigtown some day soon!

We ate lunch at Craft, as recommended by the owners of Kenzie's sister. A dog friendly pub with a great sounding menu! We got broccoli and cheese soup and a sandwich. They were good and faster than ordering a proper meal. There was just too much to see and do to spend too much time eating!

Right before leaving, I discovered the second largest bookstore in Wigtown, based in an old bank building. There were not as many rooms as the other book store, but there were dead ends and doors into offices and loads of places to store books. I got lost a few times, but what a wonderful place to be lost in!

To sum up this day, books, gifts, happy dogs, meeting new friends and eating good food. Does it get better than this?

Here are some more photos from the day -